A Note to the Reader

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>This short note explains the structure of the book and provides readers with a preliminary orientation to Améry’s three major works: At the Mind’s Limits, On Aging, and On Suicide. Because the study is organized thematically around the axes of identity, time, and failure, it does not follow a conventional monograph-by-monograph structure. Instead, it moves freely across Améry’s oeuvre to trace the unfolding of these themes. To assist with this approach, the chapter offers a descriptive overview of each of the three books, outlining their main arguments and internal structure. It does not present an interpretive analysis but serves as a guide to Améry’s texts, ensuring that readers unfamiliar with his writings can follow the thematic explorations developed in the chapters that follow.</jats:p>